Preparing for our hike

 Once we decided to do this hike, the first thing we did was order the definitive guide for hiking the Tour du Mont Blanc, written by Kev Reynolds, which describes the various hike stages. This guide book was really helpful as we made all our reservations at the various huts and small inns. 

The next thing we did was think about what we would do differently from our last hike in the Alps — the most important thing we know we need to do is pack lighter! So, we are changing the size packs we are taking and focusing on bringing the absolute minimum of items we need. For example, we are each wearing one set of clothes and packing one other set — that's it! So, we'll be washing clothes out each night and not worrying about being fashion statements. I'm really pleased that after creating my "bare bones list" and packing the items, my pack weighes 17.5 lbs without water. When I add water into my camelback bladder, the weight goes up to 22 lbs. That weight is definitely less than what I carried last time! 

 The other thing we're doing this time is adding some more rest days into our schedule. We definitely learned last time that hiking for 6 days in a row, taking a rest day, and then hiking for another 6 days was too hard on our bodies. So, hopefully the increased rest days, lighter packs, and our ongoing training will make a big difference for us.